Local Colleges Not Rushing to Add Armed Guardians Under New State Law

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Despite a new Florida law allowing trained armed guardians on college campuses, neither the University of West Florida nor Pensacola State College has immediate plans to participate. Both schools tell the PNJ that they already operate full-time police departments with sworn officers on duty around the clock. UWF says it will review all options but nothing has been decided. PSC says the guardian program technically does not apply to the school — one of only six or seven state colleges in Florida with its own police department — though the college is exploring using guardians to supplement existing staff.

Third Annual Tri-County Military Forum Set for Wednesday at UWF

Escambia County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Northwest Florida's military community is coming together Wednesday for the third annual Tri-County Military Forum at UWF — and Santa Rosa County Commission Chairman Colten Wright says the event is designed to help the public understand just how much the region's military installations mean to the local economy and national defense.

The forum is hosted by the Northwest Florida Defense Coalition and Santa Rosa County's Economic Development Office. Wright will emcee the event for the third consecutive year.

The lineup is significant. Congressman Jimmy Patronis will appear alongside Mike Cooper from Leonardo Aerospace to discuss aerospace innovation and economic development in the region. Commanding officers from all three major local installations will also participate — Captain Chandra Newman from NAS Pensacola, Captain Ted Elkins from NAS Whiting Field, and Colonel Clayton Schutte, deputy commander at Hurlburt Field.

Topics will include installation priorities, workforce alignment, defense procurement access, and the landscape affecting military investment in Northwest Florida. Wright says the goal is to build win-win opportunities between the Air Force, Navy, and the surrounding communities — and to correct what he calls a widespread misconception about what each installation actually does and contributes.

The economic stakes are significant. Military activity in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties generates 8.3 billion dollars in regional economic impact — accounting for more than 52 percent of the local economy. NAS Pensacola alone supports 126 tenant commands employing more than 16,000 military personnel and 74-hundred civilian employees. NAS Whiting Field is the busiest naval air station in the world.

Seats are still available — registration is open online.

Santa Rosa Sheriff Comments on K-9 Vest Donation, Navarre Beach Traffic and More

Santa Rosa County, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson joined Pensacola's Morning News Monday morning with a Memorial Day weekend update and several other items — including a community donation that is keeping one of his K-9 deputies better protected.

K-9 Gets New Protective Vest

Sheriff's K-9 Dart has a new anti-stab and bulletproof vest — donated by local businesses in Santa Rosa County. Johnson says the community's generosity toward the K-9 unit is something he never takes for granted — noting that local donations have funded not just equipment but entire dogs for the unit. He says the combined anti-stab and bulletproof vest is deployed selectively — put on the dog before sending it into high-risk situations like barricaded suspects — rather than worn on routine patrol due to the heat and weight. He also noted that jail deputies voluntarily wear stab-resistant vests inside the facility since firearms aren't the threat there but improvised weapons are.

Navarre Beach Quiet This Memorial Day

Johnson says Memorial Day weekend at Navarre Beach has been smooth — with mostly families filling the sand and the beach's limited bar scene keeping the larger party crowds headed toward Pensacola Beach and Destin. He says Navarre's traffic has remained consistent year over year — hovering around 38 to 40 days annually hitting the 7,500 car threshold — a stark contrast to Pensacola Beach which hit 20,000 car days 66 times before Labor Day last year. Johnson says the traffic light installed at the bridge approach has improved the flow of traffic even if it hasn't reduced the overall volume.

Deputies Wrangle Loose Cow Near Jay

On the lighter side Johnson confirmed that Santa Rosa deputies near Jay wrangled a loose cow this week after it was struck by a vehicle — noting it happens on a semi-regular basis in that part of the county and the cow came out okay.

Click here to listen to the full interview.